inspiring the pragmatic practice of intimacy with Christ

four minutes with God: Ephesians 4:29-32

the Word: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:29-32 (NIV)

my Prayer:
Lord, there’s something liberating about an unresolvable situation. It forces me to remember that on my own, I can do nothing. YOU can do anything. So, when I reach an impasse with another person, when I face the undeniable fact that there’s absolutely nothing I can do to resolve a situation, the only thing I’m left with is prayer. Thank you for helping me realize and accept that all my own human efforts will pale in comparison to what YOU can do. If you choose to. Talk and actions may result in temporary manipulation, but long-lasting, fundamental change will come when YOU speak and move. Thank you for reminding me that while Romans 8:28 promises you will work all things for good, sometimes, in my own life, that looks like failure. Thank you for helping me accept that sometimes, in my own life, giving grace means walking away, even if it means walking away from something I love. Please comfort me as I let go. Please encourage me as I seek your will to fill the void this loss will create.

a Quote:
“Jesus washes our feet for two reasons. The first is to give us mercy; the second is to give us a message, and that message is simply this: Jesus offers unconditional grace; we are to offer unconditional grace. The mercy of Christ preceded our mistakes; our mercy must precede the mistakes of others.”JUST LIKE JESUS by Max Lucado

the lyric.“So who says he’ll forgive you? And says that he’ll miss you? And dream of your sweet memory? God does. But I don’t. God will. But I won’t. And that’s the difference between God and me.”God Will by Lyle Lovett(what? cut me a break, I’m still working on it…is this better?)
“Well I find that I’m just not agile enough, to balance the weight of all of this stuff. It’s a cumbersome task that demands too much and it’s gettin’ me nowhere fast…As far as the east is from the west, these are the things that I must forget. I’ll lay down my anger before the sun sets, I will forgive. I will forget. I will remember not, I will forgive. These things that tear my heart, I will forget. I will forget.Remember Not by Susan Ashton (click HERE to listen)

Unfortunately, as humans, we can forgive but aren’t able to totally forget. I’d love to have that ability–it would make the whole forgiveness thing so much easier! I STILL hear a voice from three years ago in my head and it’s still a decision to forgive! (I make it, though!)

I am not sure that what you are describing is walking away as much as it is standing still and pointing them away from you and to the Word and obedience. I have found that if I view biblical counseling less as putting out a fire, and more as an investment in discipleship which needs to be paced and laced with learning and applying the Word, I am more able to help them see God as sufficient and sovereign in their suffering.

pragmatic adjective \prag-ˈma-tik\
focused on needs and results, rather than with ideas or theoriescompendium noun \kəm-ˈpen-dē-əm\:
a collection of things (such as photographs, stories, facts, etc.) that have been gathered together and presented as a group.

Julie Stiles Mills in 50 Words or LessI’m a voracious reader, an incurable bibliophile, a resilient writer, a harmony loving vocalist and worship leader who prefers leading worship over performing, and a Christ-centered speaker/teacher passionate about discipleship and relational evangelism.